Method of packaging



July 18, 1939. R. M. BERGSTEIN METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed May 5, 1958INVENTOR. Raes/ r Hoare/.s .Bf/z as ref/v.

ATTORNEs.

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Patented July 1s, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

In my U. S. Patent No. 2,095,910, I have disclosed methods of makingcontainers comprising an outer carton with a pre-formed tubular liner orbag therein, and in my copending application Serial No. 180,750, I havedisclosed mechanisms for carrying out this method. I have found thatwhen a container of this type is supplied with the liner having one endsealed, that the squaring up of the outer carton tends to throw somestrain upon the sealed end `of the liner, which is likely to disrupt thesealed end and prevent the integral condition desired. By my inventionas herein disclosed I provide a packaging method which prevents thiscondition, and still provides an independently sealed bottom closure forthe liner. This and other objects of my invention will be made clear bythe drawing and specifications which follow, and the nature and scope ofmy` invention will be set forth in the claims which follow, to whichreference is hereby made.

In the drawing:

Figure l illustrates a fiat blank suitable for my outer carton, theshaded portions indicating the adhesively covered areas on the interiorsurface of the blank. x

Fig. la illustrates a pre-formed flexible tubular structure, open atboth ends, in position on the dat blank, prior to folding and securingthe blank about this tube.

Fig. 2 illustrates the blank after it is folded and secured, in whichform the container is suitable for shipment to the point of use.

Fig. 3 illustrates the container shown in Fig. 2 upon being squared up,and it can be seen that squaring up the outer carton results inthe innerliner also being brought into erect or squared-up form.

Fig. 4 shows the closing fla-ps at one end of the carton folded back,and a seam formed by heatsealing between the walls of the liner, toclose one end of the liner.

Fig. 5 shows a step in the process of folding the ilaps about the closedend of the liner.

Fig. 6 shows the aps completely folded and secured atthis end.

Fig. 'I illustrates the contents being inserted into the package asshown in Fig. 6, the contents of course being introduced into the openmouth of the other end of the liner.

Fig. 8 shows forming a seam by heat between the two opposite walls ofthe open mouth of the liner, this step corresponding to the procedure asshown in Fig. 4, for the rst closed end of the liner.

Fig. 9 shows the top flaps partially folded about the sealed linerclosure illustrated ln Fig. 8 above.

Fig. 10 shows the top iiaps now folded into full closing position, andsecured, providing a finished package with contents therein ready forshipment. l

I have illustrated my invention as employing the standard carton withclosing ilaps at both ends, which aps are cemented together when closed.Its application to other carton forms with various closing flaparrangements will be ob- 10 vlous.

Referring now to Figure 1, the blank shown has four hingedly connectedpanels, Nos. I, 2, 3 and 4. Hingedly connected to panel 4 is the usualglue ilap 5. Foldably connected to the ends of the panels are closingflaps 6, 1, B and 9 at one end and I0, Il, I2 and I3 at the other.Adhesive has been applied to the shaded areas indicated. The shaded areaindicated at I4 is for the purpose of securing this portion of the panelto the glue flap upon folding, and to retain the tubular form of thecarton, and the shaded areas indicated at I5, is for the purpose ofsecuring the pre-formed liner in desired position Within the cartonblank, so that as the nished structure is opened, the liner will open.

Fig. 1a shows a pre-formed tubular structure I6, having both ends open,in position overlying the panels 2 and 3. The liner is preferably madeof heat fusible material on the inner surface at least, and thelengthwise seam I'I thereof is preferably a heat fused seam. If but asingle ply material is used that is coated with heat fusible materialand an overlap seam is provided, the heat fusible material may be placedon the outside of the sheet at the underlapped Aedge for heat sealing,as described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 184,841, filedJanuary 13, 1938.

Fig. 2 illustrates the container after panels I and 4 have been foldedover, the panel I being lapped over the glue flap. After being foldedthe container is put under pressure, which serves to secure adhesion,both of the glue flaps retaining the outer carton in flat folded tubularform, and also to secure adhesion between the interior surfaces to whichadhesive has been applied of 'the blank, to the outer surface of theliner.

In the form just described the container is suitable for shipment to thepoint of use, that is to the point where the contents are to beintroduced.

Fig. 3 illustrates the first stage of my method,

at the point where `the contents are to be packaged. The outer cartonhas been squared up, and because the inner liner has been adheredasdescrlbedtotheinnersufaceofthecarton, squaring up the carton therebyresults in the lduarlnl un of the inner liner. A

Pig. tillustrates'the nrst ste in closing the erected package. the flapsat oneend as illustrated having been folded back to. permit access tothe projecting ends of the liner at that end, and the opposite walls ofthe liner at said end are secured together by a heat fused seam Ii. Itshould be noted that the projecting end of the liner has thus beensecured independently of the closingflaps of the carton, so that thereis no interfolding of the flaps and the liner, but the opposite walls ofthe end of the liner have been sealed by the application of heat,resulting in` closing the liner at this end, but not having any effectupon the closing of the outer carton.

Figure illustrates the first stage in closing the flaps of the carton atthe end where the liner has been sealed, the two opposite closing flapsC and 8 having been folded inwardly, about the sealed end of the liner.The liner is preferably of a length to overlie theY closing flaps andthe seal is made at a point beyond the fold lines of the closing flaps.This assures a bottom for the container which is square with'the flaps.

Fig. 6 illustrates the final stage in closing the flaps of the carton atthis end, the remaining closing flaps now having been brought intooverlapped position, where they may be secured by adhesive or by lockingor by an'y of a number of well-known closing means.

After the end of the container has been closed as described in thepreceding steps, the contents vare now introduced into the open mouth ofthe other end of the liner.

This is illustrated by Fig. 7, in which a spout I 9 diagramrnaticallyillustrates the contents injector. At this point the liner may becharged with g'as where gas packing is employed.

The same procedure as described in connection with Figures 4 to 6 is nowfollowed in closing the remaining open end of the container. The firststep, as illustrated in Fig. 8, is to independently heat-seal the seamacross the open mouth of the liner as at 20. This is accomplished bydrawing together the opposite walls of the liner mouth, and forming aseam therebetween in the presence of heat. The next step as shown inFig. 9, is folding in the two opposite closing aps Il and I2, andfinally as shown in Fig. 10 the folding in of the remaining two closingflaps Ii and il, which may be secured by adhesive, by locking, or by anywell known means as explained in connection with the closing of theflaps `at the other end of the carton. In this closed and sealed form,the finished package is ready for shipment, and it can be seen that thecontents are protected within an independently formed heat-sealed innerliner, which liner is supported by the outer carton which has beenclosed about it. I prefer that the seal 2li be located in a flattenedportionof the liner mouth well above the line of juncture of the wallsabove the contents within the package to allow for expansion andcontraction.

It is apparent that variations can be made in the example described inconnection with the drawing, without departing from the spirit or scopeof my invention. My packaging method provides a finished package withcontents within an independently sealed liner having a heatfusibleinterior, said sealed liner being supported within an outer carton whichis closed thereabout, but in which the entire structure is made in .fiatform originally constituting a unit consisting of a carton and a liner.

In .my U. S. Patents Nos. 2,114,622, 2,114,623, and 2.114.824. datedApril 19. i938, I have shown mechanism for first elongating the mouth ofa bag contained in an erected carton, and then heat sealing the same.Also liner heat sealing mechanisms, where the particular nature of theseal as shownin my said United States patents is not involved, arenumerous in the arts, and,

provide various ways for heatv sealing of liners in carton whilemaintaining the closing flaps out of the way, in an operation followingthe filling of the carton. lIn my practice. where the liner isadhesively Joined with the carton and is seamed independently in a tube,it is simple and practical to employ the same mechanism for forming theend seal in a tube in the absence of any contents, as have been usedwhere the contents Iare in place, and thus'hold the liner in distendedorm.

'I'his is an important feature of my invention, because if the liner wasnot adhered to at least two opposite walls of the carton, according tomy invention, it would be almost impossible to successfully close anopen end of the liner. As previously mentioned, the fact that my lineris secured to the main body of the carton as described, makes itpractical to readily foldably manipulate the open end oi.' the emptyliner, tov

provide a closure at one end, prior to the introduction of the contents.

The usual carton filling machine requires a preliminary squaring up ofthe cartons, and then the machine first proceeds to fold inwardly andadhesively secure the closing flaps of the carton, after which contentsare introduced into the carton and the machine then closes and seals theclosing flaps at the top of the carton. My present practice can becarried out on such machines by merely interpolating heat sealingmechanisms for the two ends of the tubular liner, which heat sealingmechanisms may be those described in my said co-pending application forLetters Patent.

The usual practice where liners are used with cartons is to erect theliner about a mandrel and then insert it into the carton. The liner willusually be formed with a folded bottom on such mandrels. Such liners bytheir very nature cannot be made impermeable to moisture or gas. In mypractice where the liner has its own independent lengthwise seal, and isthen placed in the carton which is formed up around it in flat form atall times, and in which at the place of use the carton is squared upthus squaring up the tubular liner, whereupon an independent bottom seamis formed in the liner, I am able to provide for a completelyimpermeable liner structure which is formed into a bag before thecontents are inserted, as a step in the necessary operation of closingthe bottom flaps of the carton preparatory to introducing the contentsinto the package.

I thus avoid the defect incident to sealing the liner at one end to forma complete bag prior to the erection of the carton. As already noted theresult of such a procedure is to distort the bottom seam of the bag.However, where the bottom seam is made preparatory to closing the bottomflaps of the carton in the usual way, this defect is overcome, andl yetthe highly desirable 'feature of a liner complete and independentlyseamed throughout is provided.

'I'he heat fused seams are undoubtedly the most efiicient and readilymade and my invention is directed mainlyto this end. However, adhesiveseams could be substitutedand if so, many of the advantages of mypractice will still be retained except that the sealing would be byadhesive rather than heat.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim` as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. That method of packaging which comprises providing a flat foldedcarton having at least four parallel crease lines, and closing flaps atthe ends thereof, said carton having adhesively fastened to its innersurface a liner with its longitudinal edges fastened to one anotherindependent of the fastening of the container, and the open end of saidliner projecting beyond the main body 4panel of said outer carton, andfree of attachment to the closing flaps, which method v comprisessquaring up said carton, thereby simul- 'the flaps of the outercontainer about the sealed end, thereafter filling with contents,sealing the other end of the liner and closing the flaps thereabout.

2. That method of packaging which comprises providing a dat foldedcarton having at least four parallel crease lines, and closing flaps atthe ends thereof, said carton having adhesively fastened to its innersurface a liner with its longitudinal edges fastened to one anotherindependent of the fastening of the container, the inner surface ofwhich liner is heat-fusible, and the open end of said liner projectingbeyond the main body panel of said outer carton and free of attachmenttothe closing flaps, which method comprises squaring up said carton,thereby simultaneously squaring upsaid inner liner, thereafterheat-sealing one of the open ends` of the liner, closing the flaps ofthe outer container about the sealed end, thereafter lling withcontents, heatsealing the other end of the liner and closing the lflapsthereabout.

3. 'I'hat method of packaging which comprises providing a flat foldedcarton within which is secured an independent open-ended tubular liner,said liner being heat fusible on its inner surface at least, and theopen ends of said liner projecting free of the closing flaps atthe endsof said carton, which comprises squaring up said carton thereby squaringup said inner liner, heat sealing one end of said liner, and closing thecarton ilaps thereabout, filling contents into remaining Open end ofsaid liner, and thereafter heatsealing said end and 'closing the cartonflaps thereabout.

4. That method of packaging which consists in providing a four-sidedflatcarton within which is secured an independently sealed flat tube,saidtube being adhesively secured to the walls ofthe carton so that it willopen when the carton is opened, but said tube being sufficiently freeof, the closure flaps of thel carton to permit independent closure ofthe'tube at both ends of the said carton, then erecting the said carton,then sealing the projecting portion ,of the tube at one end of thecarton, then placing the contents within the package through the otheropen end of the tube, and finally sealing the said remaining open end ofthe tube.

ROBERT Monats BERGSTEIN,

